3rd Man Movements

After Neto's two goals at Everton, Alonso was asked how he'd taken to being a wing-back. "You think he's a wing-back?" He's right to question it. Neto's role hasn't changed all season. Where he ends up depends on the opposition left-back. Out of possession, he looks after the full-back on his side. Against possession teams, that full-back pushes on and Neto goes with him. Everton played more direct, so Mykolenko couldn't push on the same way, and Neto could hold a higher position. In the image, if Mykolenko pushes on, Neto is forced back into what looks like a back five. You can see why people call him a winger, but the defensive job is the same every week: follow the left-back. The rest of the press works the same way. João Pedro has had a dual role all season, picking up the central player in build-up and the goalkeeper. Palmer's man is Branthwaite, but here he's jumped to the goalkeeper. Where Chelsea have struggled to get pressure on the ball is the far side. Rogers is splitting the right-back and right centre-back. If Pickford plays the other way, no one is jumping behind Rogers, and Chelsea can be forced back.